Improvement in banjos



E.v B. MANSHELD.

Improvement in Banjos.

127,179 Patented May 28,1872,

Wammes 7% 5 en m mmmgmeg UNITED STATES PATENT (DEEIoE EBEN B. MANSFIELD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BANJOS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 127,179, dated May 28, 1872 5 antcdatcd May 272, 1872.

Specication describing certain Improve ments in Banjos, invented by EBEN B. MANSA FIELD, of Boston, in the county ot' .Suffolk and State of Massachusetts.

My invention relates to an arrangement for operating the strainers7 while keeping them out of sight and giving a pleasing and finished appearance to the instrument. The straincrs instead of being drawn over the hoop are placed into it, (the hoop being thicker than usual now,) and are tightened from the under side by means of a slotted nut. A neat plate covers the upper side and part ot' the hoop, giving a tine appearance to the instrument.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is sketch of the head of a banjo and a' portion ot' the neck embodying my invention; a portion of the plate is represented as broken out, showing' the arrangement of one of the strainers. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a part ofthe hoop, showing one of the strainers and also a plan of the slotted uut. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the head.

a is the head. b is the neck. cis the plate, which shuts down over the strainers. d is the hoop. c e are the strainers. f is a rim, over which the strainers are hooked which tighten the head. g is the slotted nut.

The plate c is capable of any degree of ornamentation, and completely hides the strainers e e, rim f, Src.

The hoop d is made thicker than is now common, and I ind gives a firmer tone to the instrument than the old thin hoop. The instrument is made better by the thick hoop.

The strainers e e are hooked upon the rim f and are carried down into the hoop d, where they are regulated by the nut g.

A simple instrument is constructed so as to and turns the nut regulating the strainers.

I usually place twelve strainers uponabanjo, the diameter of the head being' twelve inches. The hoop d is made about five-eighths (g) ot' an inch thick.

My device makes a much more handsome and neat-appearing banjo than any heretofore manufactured.

The tone is beyond criticism, as is proved by actual test.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination and arrangement of the strainers c e, nuts fi fz', rim f, and plate c, the whole being combined, constructed, and arranged substantially as specified, and for the purpose above stated.

EBEN BMANSFIELD.

Vitnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, VICTOR C. J Us'r.

t into the slot fi, and is inserted from below, 

